1947 Marine Green Sheaffer Sovereign Statesman fountain pen - Vacuum-Fil - Fine Golden Spade nib

This pen left the Sheaffer factory in Ft. Madison, Iowa as a Sovereign with a slender nib. This is indicated by the 875 price code under the barrel imprint that indicates the sale price of $8.75.

I've upgraded the nib to a Golden Spade - so called by my friend Paul Burberry because it is the same size nib as that found on the earlier Balance Premier, or OverSize. Sheaffer stopped making the Premier nibs around 1942 but they introduced a new, large nib in the 1948 Sheaffer Statesman made from injection molded plastic. It is an impressive looking nib on a slender vintage pen. I think it looks particularly good on the earlier celluloid pen. The nib writes a smooth, wet, fine line.

The celluloid is in excellent condition with no cracks, marks or flaws. The plating is perfect with no loss, wear or thin spots. The ink view grip section has darkened but the ink level remains discernible when held before a light.

The vacuum filler is freshly restored with modern, synthetic materials that will last decades with only an occasional application of silicone grease on the filler rod.

The pen and nib are comparable in size to a Sailor ProGear. If desired, the cap will post on the barrel to make the pen comfortable in any hand.

Length

Capped: 128 mm - 5 inches
Uncapped: 112 mm - 4.4 inches
Posted: 146 mm - 5.8 inches

Diameter

Cap: 12.6 mm - 0.5 inches
Barrel: 11.5 mm - 0.45 inches